Word
embattled
Phoneticsem·bat·tled
US/ɛmˈbætəɫd/
UK/ɛmbˈætəld/
Definition
v. to be in a difficult or dangerous situation, often because of a fight or a strong argument. It describes someone who is struggling against many problems at once.
v. to be engaged in a struggle or conflict, typically involving a significant number of opponents or obstacles. Often used to describe a person or group facing intense criticism or legal pressure.
Examples
“The embattled leader faced a difficult decision.”
“The embattled CEO spent the entire afternoon answering questions from angry shareholders about the company's declining profits.”
“The embattled government struggled to maintain public support as a series of economic crises and internal scandals began to erode the trust of the electorate.”
Examples
simple
“The embattled leader faced a difficult decision.”
contextual
“The embattled CEO spent the entire afternoon answering questions from angry shareholders about the company's declining profits.”
complex
“The embattled government struggled to maintain public support as a series of economic crises and internal scandals began to erode the trust of the electorate.”
Real-World Examples
“Right from the start, when it was documenting a small, instinctively cheerful boy and his embattled family, this film managed to sidestep grinding misery.” “The leader of African football has told Sky News the FIFA election is the way to challenge Gianni Infantino's position – cautioning against moves to force out the embattled president early.” Etymology
From embattle (“to equip as for battle”) + -ed.
From embattle (“to furnish with battlements”) + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.